LPKF relocates laser plastic welding business

LPKF Laser & Electronics AG is relocating its laser plastic welding operation to a new facility in Fürth, Germany, in response to growth in the business. Production is scheduled to start in August.

The company had previously expanded the unit's current production facility in Erlangen, Germany, a number of times, but it decided to acquire a new building that can meet growth potential.

The site at Fürth has a production area of around 10,000 square meters, which is 2.5 times as big as the previous location. The application center for optimization of customized processes will also have more space. LPKF has acquired an additional undeveloped area for later expansion.

Ingo Bretthauer, LPKF's CEO, said: "At around 14 million euros, the purchase of the production building in Fürth is the largest single investment in the company's history."

This reflects the growth potential LPKF sees in laser plastic welding, it said. Growth rates have been in double-digits since the business was started.

Frank Brunnecker, director of the LPKF laser welding department, said he initially expects a noticeable reduction in delivery times. The move will also allow LPKF to further increase the quality of the systems and offer better access to the technology at the customer technical center.